Intellectual Freedom

More on our initiatives for
Promoting Libraries & Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual freedom is the right of all people to hold and express opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Intellectual freedom is recognized by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19, as a basic human right.

Featured Blog Events
Database June 14, 2022

Library Challenges Database

The CFE Library Challenges Database provides access to challenges libraries have faced to items in their collection, and to displays, programs, room usage, and computer access. For each challenge, the database provides information about the challenge, including (1) the item, the nature of the objection, and the requested remedy; (2) (where available) the record of the review of the challenged item undertaken by the library; (3) the library's response.
Intellectual Freedom
Blog September 19, 2023

How to Weed a School Library

There was quite a bit of pearl-clutching recently when it was announced that the Peel District School Board (PDSB) had begun to weed its libraries by removing all books published before 2008. Like a good garden, libraries do need the occasional weeding. The question is, of course, what’s a weed?
Danielle S. McLaughlin
Intellectual Freedom
News June 22, 2023

Grant Munroe Appointed Senior Fellow at Centre for Free Expression

Grant Munroe has been appointed a senior fellow at the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Munroe is the public services manager for the Essex County Library in southwestern Ontario. “Grant Munroe brings a wide range of experience and skills which are important for the Centre for Free Expression’s work in defending and promoting intellectual freedom,” said James L. Turk, CFE director.
Intellectual Freedom
News May 16, 2023

Sarah Meilleur joins CFE Working Group on Intellectual Freedom

Sarah Meilleur, the CEO of the Calgary Public Library, has been appointed today to membership on the Centre for Free Expression’s Working Group on Intellectual Freedom. “We are delighted Sarah has agreed to joining the Centre for Free Expression’s Working Group. She brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to intellectual freedom,” said James L. Turk, Director of the CFE. 
Intellectual Freedom
List April 12, 2023

CFE Profiles of Challenged Books

CFE Book Profiles provide background information about important books being challenged in libraries in Canada. Each profile has information about the author, the publisher’s description of the book, the number of editions and languages into which it has been translated, awards (if any) it has won, and quotes from professional reviews of the book.
Intellectual Freedom